HILLSBORO Star-Journal

One of the most popular quotes from playwright William Shakespeare is “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” For “Night at the Barn,” a live nativity put on by the Tabor Mennonite Youth Fellowship, not only will men and women be players, but varieties of farm animals will as well.
Various farm animals will be involved in the live nativity scene in a barn on the farm of Maynard Knepp and Carol Duerksen. Included are donkeys, sheep, goats, and even guineas and pigeons.

Three farm officials agree that the overall acreage of fall wheat is down in Marion County and may be the lowest it has ever been.
Although he could not quantify exactly how much it is down, county extension agent Rickey Roberts said the reason for the decline in wheat acreage is simple.

A group of people who frequently drive 330th Rd. presented county commissioners with a petition Monday asking that the road be made safer.
The portion of road they are concerned with runs from K-15 to the McPherson County line.

After hearing an emotional statement from a mother whose 14-year-old daughter was the victim of aggravated indecent liberties, District Judge Michael Powers sentenced Daniel Scott Huls II, 33, Burns, to two concurrent sentences of 4 years, 11 months in prison.
The mother said she’d tried to put the things she wanted to say on paper, but realized some things she wanted to say were vindictive. The investigation into the incidents, which occurred between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2015, uncovered an additional incident that had not been reported, she said.

Judy Mace recently wooed an audience with the soothing sounds of her harp at Tabor College.
Many Lifelong Learning patrons closed their eyes and absorbed her harp’s sonic vibrations as they rippled through a room in the Wohlgemuth Music Education building.

To understand the artistry of Kaycee Chermak of Florence, one must follow a trail that begins with with mermaids.
Mystic sea maidens were a childhood fascination that found expression in her earliest drawings.

The Arts & Crafts Association announced that Brenda Walls will be its new fair director.
Walls, who started in November, will be taking over for Penni Schroeder, who held the position six years.

Hillsboro High School’s saxophone quartet will perform Christmas music at Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce’s noon luncheon Dec. 13 at Scout House in Memorial Park.
Under the direction of Bruce Major, saxophonists Addie Berens, Sarah Diener, Grace Major, and Ellian Weisbeck will perform three movements from the “Nutcracker Suite,”“Cradle Song,”and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

Looked forward to for a year at a time, the Christmas season brings back memories stretching back to early childhood.
Several Marion residents, asked about their favorite Christmas memories, reflected and shared their favorites.

Not everyone’s Christmas season is filled with joy and celebration.
Those dealing with death of a loved one, loss of a job, or other sorrow can find it difficult to navigate through the season.

A committee working on economic development plans for Marion County expects to finish research, weed out the unimportant, and be ready to write a plan for moving ahead this month.
County commissioners last week voted to approve a charter presented by Chris Hernandez, chairman of the economic development committee.

Former Peabody area farmer Willard V. Harms, 87, died Friday at Hillsboro Community Hospital.
He was born Nov. 12, 1929, to Leonard and Martha (Penner) Harms in Newton. He also had a stepmother, Elizabeth. On August 17, 1956, he married Ruby Funk. Willard was a farmer and stockman and a member of Grace Hill Mennonite Church.

Fred “Fritz” Helmer, 90, Marion, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital in Marion.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Zeiner Funeral Home. Services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Burial will be in Marion Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM:

Standing like a sentinel over history, a weathered, two-story, wood-frame house can be seen on a hill along US-56/77 northeast of Marion.
The shingles are gone, windowpanes shattered, and doors missing, but its rooms once were filled with the voices of parents in conversation and children at play.

Kansas Farm Service Agency has extended the deadline to submit ballots for 2016 county committee members until Tuesday.
Producers who participate in a farm program are eligible to vote.

McPherson Community Brass Choir, under the direction of Jerry Toews of Goessel, will perform an all brass Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, one mile north of Goessel on K-15.
The 16-member brass choir is in its 43rd year of performing. The performance will feature Christmas music both traditional and pop.

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

Trojan boys’ basketball coach Darrell Knoll expected a track meet in Friday night’s season opener against the visiting Sterling Black Bears. Once the Bears get into a groove with the scorers they have, they are quite capable of making it a long night for opponents.
Instead, it was the Trojans’ smothering defense, up-tempo offense, and a barrage of threes barreling out of the gate and that took down Sterling, 66-53.

Goessel’s boys got to within one point of a taller Inman team in the second quarter of their season opener Friday before the Bluebirds’ offense sputtered to a 53-23 loss.
In contrast, the Bluebird girls overcame a seven-point deficit with a 19-2 third-quarter run to record a 48-33 victory over Inman.

Hillsboro High School wrestling team defeated Halstead 48-6 and lost to Minneapolis 21-54 Thursday at Halstead.
Coach Scott O’Hare was disappointed Halstead only brought one wrestler. He said the rest were no healthy enough to compete.

Senior Citizens of Marion County will hold a board of directors meeting at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at Marion Senior Center.
Marion seniors will be serving lunch and need reservations by Dec. 14.

USDA commodities will be distributed from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at Lincolnville Community Center.

Entries for Hoch Publishing coloring and recipe contests are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 16.
The Santa’s Christmas Coloring Contest for kids 3 to 10 must be the picture printed in the Nov. 23 edition of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin. Copies of the picture are available at the Hoch Publishing office.

Blood drives are planned later this month in western Marion County.
Donations will be accepted from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at Hillsboro City Hall and from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at Goessel Mennonite Church.

Ballet Wichita will perform The Nutcracker at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at McPherson Opera House.
The performance follows a little girl’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers, and an army of mice.